Irrigating apparatus



R. s. IKENNISON IRRIGAT ING APPARATUS Aug. 12, 1941.

Filed Dec. 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l ii Inn m 3 K a mi 8 Q 89 m 6 o w 9Q Q Q r 8 3 m 1 INVENTOR. unis 01?,

ATTORNE Aug. 12, 1941.

R. s. KENNISON IRRIGAIING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1958INVENTOR. lzemasan I 0 n fiadngS,

Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRRIGATIN (3-APPARATUS Rodney S. Kennison, Los Angcles, Calif. Application December23, 1938, Serial No; 247,347

2 Claims. (ci. 128-227) My invention relates to improvements inirrigating apparatus, the primary object being to provide improved meansby which the colon or vagina can be most effectively and safely treatedby irrigation. More particularly this invention .1

is the subjectmatter of a continuation in part of my companionapplication filedJulyZ'l, 1935, Serial Number 33,448, from which theimproved construction of applicator or nozzle therein disclosed wasclaimed. The present application is directed more particularly tofeatures relating to the table construction; the flexible means havingsuflicient rigidity for automatically holding the nozzle: or applicatorin-adjusted position when applied in use or out of the Way when removed.3

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my improved apparatus,a portion of the table being broken away to more clearly disclose theplatform; Fig. 2 is an endelevation looking at the foot end of thetable; Fig. 3 is an elevational center sectionlof. a detail showing theflushing receptacle in the surface of the table; Fig. 4 is adiagrammatic view showing the meter and its method of application tothe'irrigating apparatus for indicating the number of times theapparatus is operated; Fig. his a diagrammatic plan of the irrigatingapparatus removed from the table; Fig. 6 is an elevation .ofia'Idetailshowing the nozzle or applicator for insertion in a body orifice, theflexible egress duct for holding the nozzle adjusted for use or removedout of the way and theswivel by, which the egress duct can be swung awayclear of the table; Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in centralvertical section of my improved nozzle which is applied to the free endof the flexible egress duct, and Fig. 8 isa transverse section of Fig.7, taken on line 88'.

In the drawings, A represents my improved table having afiat top iii,-supported by suitable frame work including the sides 10 and. II, ends I2and i3 and legs it. of thetable isan elevated platform i 5, which hassufficient horizontal area so that a patient can mount the same whilefacing the table and easily turn around and sit onthe top it. while thefeet remain supported by the platform. Across the Arranged in the footend foot end of the table top above the inner end of the platform is adrop panel I6, which is hinged at H to the end of the flat top' l0 andadapted to swing down intosubstantially'vertical position .clearof theinner endof the platform. When raised into horizontal position it liessubstantially inthe plane ofithe top and is so held by suitable springcatches l8; which engage the side arms IQ of the table (see Fig. 2). Theflexible cord or chain zilfastened to thespring catches facilitates theoperator'in disengaging both catches simultaneously to release? thepanel. The side arms I9,

in addition to serving as supports for the free end of the panel alsofunction as holders for bracingthe' patient while in the act of mountingor dismounting the table. The surfaces of the table top and panel may becovered with suitable padding 2|. Thuswhen the panel is raised intosuperior position sufficient padded area is provided to comfortablysupport the patient while lying flat upon the table.

Immediately back of the drop panel it, the table top has a flushingreceptacle or bowl 22, re-

cessed downwardly therein, which is closed when desired from above bythe removable cover 23. When this cover is in place and the'drop panelraised into horizontal position a substantially continuous flat tabletop is provided. During and after treatment the cover can be removed andthe flushing receptacle used while the patient is lying flat or assumessitting posture. The bottom of the flushing receptacle is connected witha sewer waste duct 24 and the upper portion of the bowl has atangentially directed nozzle 24 which is connected with a suitablesource of liquid such as provided by the overhead reservoir container B.This container has an outlet duct 25 which iscontrolled by the valve '26on the front side of the table convenient for use by the operator.

The container B may be a transparent bowl, supported above the table bythe bracket 30 on a standard 3!, to produce the desired hydrostaticpressure of 'the liquid therein. The lower portion of the bowl hasitsoutlet duct 25 provided thermometer 40 placed in the container servesto indicate the temperature of the liquid therein.

The nozzle C is formed with a hollow annulus or shoulder 4|, which isshaped with a forwardly and inwardly tapering neck 42, terminating in aforwardly extending tube 43, said tube being closed at its forwardextremity excepting for an orifice 44. Extending rearwardly through andspaced inwardly at its side from the tube is an inner tube 45, whichflares outwardly and forms a connecting neck over which a short elasticsection 46 of a tubular egress duct D engages. The flexible liquidsupply tube 34 is connected with the passage between the outer and innertubes of the nozzle by the tubular stem 41. In use the tube 43 isinserted fully in the rectum or other body orifice where it is heldtightly by the resistance offered by egress duct D and with the neck andshoulder producing a tight joint to provent leakage of the injectedliquid from the body orifice. The nozzle has transverse passages 48through the forward portion of the outer tube entering the inner tube 45for the egress of the irrigating liquid and fecal matter from the colonor other body orifice. The temperature of the outer tube or jacketproduced by the irrigating liquid received from the source of supplycauses the rectal spincter muscles and any tissue and muscle fibers inproximity to the outer surface of the outer shell to relax and stimulatecirculation if the supply of irrigating liquid is hot or to contract andreduce fever if the supply of irrigating liquid is cold.

The egress duct D is a flexible tube formed by a helical fiat strip 50of spring metal or other suitable material, the convolutions thereofbeing tightly coiled edgewise together under spring tension to form aleak proof duct accompanied by suflicient stiffness to hold the tubeadjusted in any flexed outstanding position. One end of this tube iscoupled to the upper end of an elbow 5! (see Fig, 6), which is engagedby the swivel 52 on the upper end of a rigid duct 53 and the oppositeend of the tube is connected with the elastic section 46. The rigidportion 53 of the egress duct is formed with a horizontal section 54which is supported upon the front of the table by the fixed supports 55and 56, between which a transparent sight tube 51 is inserted, throughwhich the irrigating liquid and fecal matter therein flowing from thebody orifice can be inspected. The elbow 5| is elevated above the footof the table and its upper end swings by the swivel in substantially ahorizontal plane and supports the flexible duct. When the elbow is swungout the flexible duct D is held in outStand.. ing position away from thetable so as not to obstruct the patient. After the patient mounts thetable and assumes reclining position the elbow is swung in and holds theflexible duct with its nozzle inserted in the body orifice where it isautomatically held tightly due to the stiffness of the duct. After usethe duct can be swung clear of the table while outstanding, in whichposition it again remains automatically so that the patient may use theflushing receptacle or descend from the table without interference. Thehorizontal egress duct 54 extends to and connects with the sewer outletduct 24 (see Fig. 5) and contains a shut off valve 55 which is opened orclosed by the actuating arm 56, a reciprocable bar 5! and a rack bar 58on the front of the table. The flexible irrigating supply duct 34 issupported near one end onthe side of the flexible egress duct D by aclip 60 or other suitable means and is connected at its other end to therigid supply duct 32. A branch 6| leading to the egress duct 53 belowthe swivel 52 and controlled by the valve 62 (see Fig. 5) enables theoperator to divert the irrigating liquid from the supply receptacledirectly to the sewer connection. Also a check valve 63 in theirrigating supply duct 32 prevents any return action of irrigatingliquid.

The pressure at which the irrigating liquid is administered is highlyimportant. Too much pressure is dangerous and not enough pressurerenders the apparatus inefficient. Therefore it is highly desirable toindicate in such manner as the operator and patient may both observeslight variations in pressure in the body orifice. For this purpose Ihave provided a super-sensitive pressure indicator E which consists of aU shaped, tube 64 containing a counterpoised pressure responsive columnof mercury 65 or other suitable liquid and connected at one end by theduct 66 with the egress duct 54. This tube is transparent and. at leastone leg thereof is exposed on the front side of the table accompanied bya suitable scale 61 which cooperates with the pressure affected columnof indicating liquid to register any variations in pressure of liquid inthe body orifice transmitted through the egress duct 53. This type ofindicator serves to indicate the slightest variation in pressure exertedby the irrigating liquid in the body orifice.

During the use of the irrigating apparatus, specimens of fecal matteremitted from the colon or other body orifice can from time to time bediverted and removed through a branch 68 of the egress duct which iscontrolled by a hand operable valve 69 and connected by the flexibletubing 10 with a specimen receiving receptacle H.

The irrigating liquid in the supply receptacle is irradiated withultra-violet rays by the irradiating tube F, inserted in the liquid andheld in place by the receptacle cover 12. Thus the tissue and fiber ofthe body orifice are thoroughly sterilized by the irradiant liquid. Thisaction is augmented by the pressure of the irrigating liquid when valve55 is closed, which tends to expand the tissue and fiber of the orificeand thus expose the same more effectively to the effects of theirradiated irrigating liquid. The circuit for the tube is shown providedwith a transformer 13, a source of electric current 14, and a switch 15,located on the face of the table by which the irradiating tube can beswitched on or off as desired.

For recording the number of times the table is used, a meter G, showndiagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 4 is provided. This meter cooperateswith the rack bar 51 which is operated by the hand operated actuatingelement 58 on the front side of the table. The rack bar and its teethare normally engaged by the spring pressed plunger ll of a solenoid 18.Each time the plunger is withdrawn from engagement with the rack bar, bythe energizing of the solenoid 18, a plunger rod 19 actuates aconventional counter 80, the digits of which may be visible through thefront side of the table. When the rack bar is thus disengaged, the flushvalve 56 may be manipulated into open, closed or modified position. Aconventional time switch 8| of any suitable construction desired havingthe operating handle 82 on the front side of the table is provided,which when wound by its handle is adapted to complete an electricalcircuit through and energize the solenoid l8 at the end of the period ofits operation,

whereby the valve 55 may be actuated. Immediately at the end of theoperating period of the time switch G, the solenoid is de-energized andthe plunger is depressed into engagement with the teeth of the rack bar51, in which position the valve 55 is prevented from functioning untilthe time switch is again set to repeat the operation and the recordermade to register. As it is not practical to conduct a completeirrigating operation without closing or partly closing the valve forpart of the time and opening the same for the remaining period it istherefore necessary to operate the timing switch by the actuatingelement 82 and record the same each time the irrigating apparatus isapplied in use.

An auxiliary liquid fountain receptacle 83 and douche applicatingflexible tubing 84 and nozzle 85 are shown for supplemental use whendesired. Also a mirror 85 is supported by the fixture 55 on the table ineifective position to enable a patient lying upon the table to observethe pressure indicated by the gauge E and determined for himself orherself the proper functioning of the apparatus.

I have described the principles of operation of my invention 7 togetherwith the construction thereof which I now consider to represent the bestembodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that theapparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can becarried out by other means and applied to uses other than those aboveset forth within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Irrigating apparatus, comprising a table for supporting a body to betreated, an egress duct for flushing liquid rigidly mounted upon thetable, an upwardly extending tubular swivel on said egress duct having alaterally extending elbow adaptedto swing in a horizontal plane, aninelastic flexible duct connected with and carried by said elbow andhaving a freely movable extremity for application to a body orifice,said duct consisting of a spiral band having sufiicient immobility whenflexed and applied in use to retain the free end thereof normally injuxtaposition to said orifice without the aid of the operator, and saidswivel permitting said duct to be swung away from the orifice clear ofthe body on the table when not applied.

2. Irrigating apparatus, comprising, means for supporting a body to betreated, a swivel adjacent to said supporting means rotatable about asubstantially vertical axis, an inelastic flexible duct 1 RODNEY S.KENNISON.

